Children and Young People’s Workforce, Level 2 Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships allow you to gain qualifications whilst working - you will normally study one day per week in college and spend the rest of the week at work, usually at least 30 hours per week. They are currently available at two levels, the Intermediate and Advanced Apprenticeship. Apprentices study Certificate or Diploma in Children and Young People’s Workforce and Functional Skills*.

During the course you will develop your theoretical knowledge, as well as your skills in the workplace. Various pathways are available depending on your area of work, including early years worker, care/youth/nursery/residential-care worker or child-minder.

What will I learn?

During the course you will develop your theoretical knowledge, as well as your skills in the workplace. For your Certificate you will be assessed in the workplace and you will build up a portfolio of evidence, which may include question sheets, case studies, reflective accounts of your practice and observations.

Learners must gain a minimum of 35 credits to achieve the Certificate. To do this, they must complete 13 mandatory units to achieve 31 credits from the mandatory group of units; learners must also achieve a minimum of 4 credits from the optional group of units.

Mandatory units include topics such as: Child and Young Person Development,
Paediatric Illness and Injury, Health and Safety and Safeguarding the Welfare of Children and Young People.

A range of optional units are offered which could include: Develop Positive Relationship with Children, Young People and Others Involved in Their Care, Understand the Speech, Language and Communication Needs of Children and Young People with Behavioural, Social and Emotional Difficulties and Support the Creativity of Children and Young People, Support Children and Young People’s Play and Leisure and Support Children and Young People at Meal or Snack Times.

Career Opportunities

The Apprenticeship at Level 2 may lead to a full-time support role working with children aged between 0-19 years of age. Or you could progress onto level 3 which then will allow you to work as a qualified practitioner or supervisor working with children between 0-19 years.

Entry requirements

Successful apprentices most often exhibit empathy, respect and interest in others and come with the values and attitudes compatible with their caring role. You should also be physically fit, able and willing to working both long and irregular shift patterns whilst providing advice, encouragement and emotional and psychological support. A driving licence may be considered necessary by some employers

You should also be working 30 hours per week and be at least 16 years of age (depending on the sector you work in).

For Level 2, you should ideally have four GCSEs at grade A*-D, including English or Merit at First Diploma Level. In addition you will be required to attend an interview to assess your suitability for the programme and pass appropriate screening. For either application please speak to the course tutor for guidance.

Looking for Employment? See below for what to do next…

- Apply for this apprenticeship. We can then support you to find employment and prepare your job application.

- Register your details with the National Apprenticeship Matching Service (NAS) and search online for vacancies at www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

- Check the College’s website page regularly (sometimes employers only want to recruit locally and so they advertise on our website and not the NAS website): www.kendal.ac.uk/apprenticeships/apprentice/

- Make sure your CV is up to date and is relevant to the job industry you are applying to.